Darkplug vs ShuttR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Darkplug
This app acts as a darkroom timer and printing tool, allowing control of enlargers via a compatible smart plug. It offers precise timing, guided workflows, and a red-on-black interface for film photographers.
- Enlarger control via smart plug
- Precise timing
- Guided workflows
- Red-on-black interface
- F-Stop timing
- Dodge and burn planning
- Guided developing timer
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Darkplug is a darkroom timer and printing tool for iPhone. It lets you control your enlarger from your iPhone using a compatible Shelly smart plug on your local network. Built for film photographers and darkroom printers, Darkplug combines precise timing, guided workflows, and a red-on-black interface designed for darkroom use. The clean timer interface is designed to stay practical under safelight conditions, with large controls and minimal clutter. Darkplug+ unlocks advanced printing tools, including F-Stop timing, guided test strips, dodge and burn planning, split grade printing, guided paper developing, and reusable Dodge & Burn plan codes. The guided test strip workflow helps you build and run exposure tests in seconds or F-Stops, then apply your preferred result as the print time. The Dodge & Burn workflow helps you plan local exposure changes, review a generated print plan, and follow guided execution steps in the darkroom. Plans can be exported and restored later with reusable plan codes. Darkplug also includes a guided developing timer for developer, stop, fix, and wash, so printing and paper processing can stay in one focused app. To use Darkplug, connect your enlarger to a compatible smart plug, make sure the plug and your iPhone are on the same local network, enter the plug’s local IP address, and connect. No account login is required. No cloud backend or external web service is needed for core timer operation. Compatible smart plugs: Shelly Plus Plug S Gen2, Shelly Plus Plug UK Gen2, Shelly Plug S Gen3, Shelly Outdoor Plug S Gen3, Shelly Plug M Gen3, and Shelly Plug US Gen4.
ShuttR
This app uses your iPhone's camera to accurately measure the shutter speeds of analog film cameras. It provides a guided process to check if your camera's shutter has drifted over time, offering a clear verdict on its performance without requiring external hardware.
- Measures real shutter speeds
- Uses iPhone camera and light source
- Tests speeds from 8s to 1/500
- Guided step-by-step protocol
- Automatic calibration
- Deviation in stops and verdict
- History and camera collection
- Shareable 'shutter checked' certificate
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**Is your vintage camera's shutter still accurate — or has it drifted after decades of use?** ShuttR Check measures the real shutter speeds of your analog camera using your iPhone and a light source. No hardware testers, no sensors to buy — from 8s down to 1/2000. Photographers around the world have already tested more than 100 different camera models with it, from SLRs and rangefinders to medium and large format — and now Super 8 movie cameras too. **NEW IN 2.0** - Every speed from 8s to 1/2000, with increased precision: ShuttR Check combines several measuring methods, each tuned to its part of the speed range - Shutter capping check: a light map of the whole frame shows when one edge falls dark at fast speeds - Frame rate check (beta) for motor drives and Super 8 cameras, measured by sound - Video cameras in your collection, each with its own status - Precision confirmed (beta): on focal-plane shutters, ShuttR Check also listens to the shutter — when its sound matches the measured light, the speed is marked as confirmed - Over 130 camera models built in: pick yours and its shutter type is filled in for you - Serial numbers on every camera and on your reports **HOW IT WORKS** Open your camera's film back, remove the lens, and put a light source behind it. ShuttR Check uses your iPhone's high-speed camera together with advanced image analysis to measure exactly how long each shutter release lets light through, then tells you how far that is from the speed you dialled in — in fractions of a stop. The app walks you through every step. There is nothing to configure, nothing to interpret: set up, release the shutter, read the result. **SLOW AND FAST SPEEDS** Check the slow and middle speeds and the fast end separately or together — both show up side by side on your camera's page, each result clearly marked. With a proper light setup, results typically land within about 0.1 EV across the whole range. (Some older iPhone models measure up to 1/500.) **SHUTTER CAPPING** At fast speeds, worn curtains can fall out of step, and one edge of the frame gets less light. The capping check measures the light across the whole film gate, release after release, and shows you exactly where and from which speed on it happens. **FRAME RATE: MOTOR DRIVES AND SUPER 8 (BETA)** Hold your iPhone next to the camera and fire a burst — ShuttR Check counts the frames by ear: frames per second, how evenly they come, and whether the motor slows down. For Super 8 cameras, it checks each running speed (18, 24, 54 fps…) and how steadily the camera holds it. **WHAT YOU GET** - A guided, step-by-step measurement protocol - Automatic calibration (checks your room is dark enough, free of flickering light, and that your light source is set right) - Every speed compared against its nominal value, with the deviation in stops and a clear OK / deviation / defective verdict - A history per camera — every check, every service — so you can see what a repair really did - A shareable "shutter checked" report (image or PDF) with serial number — perfect for camera sellers on eBay, Etsy or classifieds, showing buyers exactly what they're getting **SHUTTER TYPES** Horizontal and vertical focal-plane shutters are tested and validated — the shutters in most classic SLRs and rangefinders. Leaf (central) shutters have been tested on medium and large format cameras. For Super 8 cameras, ShuttR Check measures the frame rate. **WHAT THIS APP IS NOT** ShuttR Check gives you dependable, repeatable information about how far your shutter speeds have drifted. It does not replace a calibrated measuring instrument. **PRIVATE BY DESIGN** No account, no sign-in. Your cameras and measurements stay on your device. Sound is analysed on your iPhone only — never recorded, saved or sent. ShuttR Check shares anonymous usage statistics to improve the app; you can turn them off in Settings at any time.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Darkplug at Free against ShuttR's $6.99. Darkplug also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). ShuttR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Darkplug is free to download; ShuttR costs $6.99 up front. Darkplug sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ShuttR asks for nothing beyond the download.
Darkplug holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
| Parameter | Darkplug | ShuttR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.5 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PETER DR SZENTKIRALYI | Christian Haemmerle |
In-app purchases
Darkplug
- Darkplug+$24.99
ShuttR
No in-app purchases









